Nagpur: The district administration ’s restrictions on using treated water for washing, gardening and other activities have begun affecting businesses and workers dependent on a regular water supply.




Car wash centres are switching to labour-intensive methods to continue operations while reducing water consumption. Instead of pressure washers , some are using sponges and cloths to clean vehicles, a process that takes longer and requires more physical effort. “Pressure washing helps us clean more vehicles in less time, but now we have to rely on sponges. It takes more time and effort to clean each car, which means we can serve fewer customers in a day,” said car wash worker Brajesh Singh .




“We have to explain to customers why certain cleaning services may take longer or cannot be provided as usual,” said car wash centre owner Gulpreet .




The water restrictions have also begun affecting the earnings of domestic cleaners . Leena Wagh, who works as a cleaner for an online agency, said her daily appointments had dropped to just one or two. “Not only is the water cut affecting our homes, it’s hampering our livelihoods too, as our daily income has fallen,” she said.




“For workers like us, the concern is how long these restrictions will continue and whether there will be enough work once people start cutting back on non-essential services,” said Shweta Kamble, another cleaner.